Thoughts as We Enter 2022
When I thought about reflecting on the last year yesterday it felt like too much. So I didn’t; and I just enjoyed a lazy day. But told myself I would spend some time on it tomorrow.
This morning I sat down with my coffee and journal to spend some time reflecting on the highs and lows of the last year, hopes for the upcoming year, and things I want to focus on. But let me tell you that it’s been a little hard to think of things I’m hopeful for because it feels like I’m asking too much. These last two years have been hard for so many reasons, and sometimes hope feels like a risk.
Like just one more thing that could let me down or cause more grief than good. And the more I thought about that, the more I longed for it. Risky hope.
Hope that seems foolish or silly.
Hope that looks at the longing, sees it, and pushes you forward.
Hope that means something more than a fleeting “oh, I hope so!”
Hope that fills us and leads us to more gentle living, more compassionate responses, more loving encounters, more peace filled presence.
As I wrapped up my journaling one of the last things I wrote was this…”In it all, God has been at work and I continue to learn and grown and change. May my weary hope grow stronger and may love be more freely given and received in this new year.”
This is my hope - for all of us.
May we be filled with hope, risky as it may be. May we be filled with love that overflows. May we forgive, be people of peace, and stop our busyness long enough to be thankful in it all. I’m going to be focusing on these two sections of scripture in the new year:
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13
"...forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:13-15.
Feel free to join me. I look forward to seeing how God may be leading us into life more full of hope, and so much more.
This morning I sat down with my coffee and journal to spend some time reflecting on the highs and lows of the last year, hopes for the upcoming year, and things I want to focus on. But let me tell you that it’s been a little hard to think of things I’m hopeful for because it feels like I’m asking too much. These last two years have been hard for so many reasons, and sometimes hope feels like a risk.
Like just one more thing that could let me down or cause more grief than good. And the more I thought about that, the more I longed for it. Risky hope.
Hope that seems foolish or silly.
Hope that looks at the longing, sees it, and pushes you forward.
Hope that means something more than a fleeting “oh, I hope so!”
Hope that fills us and leads us to more gentle living, more compassionate responses, more loving encounters, more peace filled presence.
As I wrapped up my journaling one of the last things I wrote was this…”In it all, God has been at work and I continue to learn and grown and change. May my weary hope grow stronger and may love be more freely given and received in this new year.”
This is my hope - for all of us.
May we be filled with hope, risky as it may be. May we be filled with love that overflows. May we forgive, be people of peace, and stop our busyness long enough to be thankful in it all. I’m going to be focusing on these two sections of scripture in the new year:
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13
"...forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:13-15.
Feel free to join me. I look forward to seeing how God may be leading us into life more full of hope, and so much more.
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